A long-standing force in motorsport data gathering and driver tuition, Racelogic’s latest case study highlights how its products are helping professionals and amateur racers alike
Jack Rawles is a young racing driver whose tender years belie his experience and level of expertise behind the wheel. Here, he takes us through a recent race weekend that started badly, but thanks largely to the use of his Racelogic VBOX Video HD2, had a happy ending.
“The weekend consisted of a ‘two drivers/one race split into two’ format, but our tow vehicle broke down on the way so I didn’t have any time for free practice. I had to go straight into qualifying,” he says.
Driving an Austin Healey owned by David Grace in the British Race Festival at Zandvoort, and starting the second day in sixth place, Jack put David’s initial race data to good use: “Firstly I could see from the data that an overdrive gear change in certain places instantly gained us two- to three-tenths per lap. And although David was a couple of seconds per lap slower than me, it didn’t matter too much as I could see the sections where he was faster.”
Jack then set about examining which corners could be negotiated more quickly: “I’ve learned that on some corners you just need to get the car stopped and turned. For instance, the last corner at Zandvoort is similar to the last one at Portimao: a constant building of speed onto a long straight, but not quite flat on the throttle in the Healey unless you hold it in a slide.”
Looking at the video and data, he was able to understand that getting it sideways might feel quick, but actually, dropping it into a lower gear on turn-in and keeping the car balanced was faster. He made up three places on this corner alone thanks to a much faster exit, which in turn lead to greater speed down the straight. Several other corners at Zandvoort are better driven ‘slow in, fast out’ – with minimal sideways action. This is easy to work out by comparing corner exit speeds in the Circuit Tools software.
“Using previously recorded data, I could see the similarities to corners from other circuits, after only six laps”
Jack says, “Using previously recorded data, I could see the similarities to corners from other circuits after only six laps of qualifying. The ability to use the data captured during precious track time, to review and understand it, is one of our biggest assets when going racing. I can learn more in 10 laps using a VBOX than I can in 100 without one. And it’s not always about knowing what you’re doing wrong, either. Understanding what you’re doing right, so that you can apply it lap after lap, is equally important.
“I can focus on the driving and then understand how to go faster once back in the pits, rather than use a trial-and-error approach during testing.” Jack and David managed a highly creditable second place, and fastest lap overall.
Jack uses the VBOX Video HD2, released last year by Racelogic, which has recently updated the unit’s functionality to include support for a highspeed OBD link Bluetooth module. The HD2 uses a fast 10Hz GPS engine perfectly synchronized with 1080p video and graphics to provide any level of racing driver with the information they need to go faster.